1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

High pitched sound normal?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Patty N, Nov 8, 2009.

  1. chota

    chota Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2009
    50
    1
    3
    Location:
    Denver
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks, I may need this! mine just started making the high pitched sound from the inverter after I pressed the gas pedal with the parking brake on for a second. Do you think it damaged anything?
     
  2. chota

    chota Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2009
    50
    1
    3
    Location:
    Denver
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Now that I've had more time to study where it's coming from I think it's the PSD. It changes pitch as the gas pedal is pressed and when the brake is applied and seems to get louder when the ICE fires up. I'll take it in to the dealer at my 4k checkup.
     
  3. d2mini

    d2mini Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2011
    519
    106
    0
    Location:
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    2012 with over 3k miles here and I have always had the high pitched whine too.
    I hear it anytime the windows are down and moving slow enough that window noise doesn't cover it up.
    I too wonder what the heck it is.
    And it remains even after unplugging the noise maker cable.
     
  4. kalome

    kalome Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2011
    411
    72
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2016 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    I just posted a message about this before seeing your comment. My car does the same exact thing, Wth is that? I never had that rattling with my 2011.
     
  5. kalome

    kalome Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2011
    411
    72
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2016 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    My car has a high pitched noise as well at low speeds and when I am at a complete stop with or without the AC on. It is very annoying and don't remember hearing it that loud with my 2011.
     
  6. chota

    chota Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2009
    50
    1
    3
    Location:
    Denver
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The rattling in your Youtube is not what I have. Mine is the high pitch whine noise that you hear with the windows down at low speeds (no wind noise) when you press the brake or accelerate. I didn't get the noise until about 2k miles. I know because as I pull into the garage slowly I used to only hear the noisemaker then later the high pitch sound started and is now always there. Plan to show it to the dealer and drive a new 2012 off the lot to see if it's in another new Prius.
     
  7. plam0ne

    plam0ne Ninja

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2012
    70
    8
    0
    Location:
    florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Five
  8. chota

    chota Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2009
    50
    1
    3
    Location:
    Denver
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Mine doesn't come at a complete stop unless I put the parking brake on and put the car in Drive (i.e. power going to the wheels). When it's in Park it's silent. Does yours make the sound while in Park?
     
  9. d2mini

    d2mini Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2011
    519
    106
    0
    Location:
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Only while moving. But have not tried giving it gas while in park. Will try soon.
     
  10. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    No worries: it won't cause any problems.

    Inverter whine is a common side effect of high frequency power electronics. It becomes much less of a problem when you get old and lose your high frequency hearing.

    Tom
     
  11. kalome

    kalome Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2011
    411
    72
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2016 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    I can't remember it doing it in park, so I believe it only happens when I have my foot on the brake at a stop.
    What is weird is once in a while it is quiet in both cases driving in electric (quieter) and foot on the brake at a stop (completely silent). But most cases it is that very loud high pitch sound. I remember my 11 being very quiet.
    I even had a friend that noticed the difference when I got my 12. Shortly after I disconnected the noise maker, he was outside listening as I drove around his street. Pulled up next to him after a u-turn and he mentioned how loud the high pitch was.
     
  12. d2mini

    d2mini Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2011
    519
    106
    0
    Location:
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I checked at lunch. No sound at a stop and no sound while in park with foot on gas.
    Only while moving and the sounds gets louder when I brake.
    I think its brake related.
     
  13. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Braking and moving both run the inverter, but only for regenerative braking. If you hear a whine while braking but not moving, try pressing harder and see if the whine goes away. The Prius simulates automatic creep by applying a small amount of power to the electric motor. If you press harder on the brake, the Prius doesn't try to creep.

    Tom
     
  14. kalome

    kalome Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2011
    411
    72
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2016 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    In the past I have tried both pressing harder at a stop and letting up on the brake a little while still keeping it at a stop. I still hear a high pitch whine.
    If you let your foot off the brake slightly while keeping the brake on at a stop, the whine will go away for about 5 seconds then it will start up again.

    It is kind of annoying sound to listen to when you are by yourself stopped at a drive-through or waiting at a long light.
    I miss the complete quietness at a stop with my 11.
     
  15. d2mini

    d2mini Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2011
    519
    106
    0
    Location:
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    As far as I can tell, no sound when sitting still and foot on the brake. In park or in drive. Only while moving for me.
     
  16. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
  17. chota

    chota Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2009
    50
    1
    3
    Location:
    Denver
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Seems like we have the same sound, mine comes while moving and is louder when I brake or accelerate. It seems to be louder with the ICE on than when in EV mode only. If I'm stopped at a light it's silent, the high pitch sound only comes when I'm moving or I did hear it by pressing the parking brake and putting the car in Drive but it was not as loud as braking or accelerating. If I had the noise from day one it wouldn't bother me as much, but mine started at around 1500 miles. Not sure what made it start after running silently(except for noise maker) for a month or so?
     
  18. d2mini

    d2mini Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2011
    519
    106
    0
    Location:
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I was about to post the exact same thing.
    And I started noticing mine the second after I lowered it, with around 1k miles. Coincidence?
     
  19. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    The sound is normal. I like to listen to it when I drive by buildings.
     
  20. tzh

    tzh Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2010
    105
    11
    0
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    For some reason, I haven't heard the noise for a while. I have 30K on the car so far.